The 1901 flood was the worst in recorded history until Hurricane Helene drenched the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. The river gauge at Embreeville reached 24′. In 2024, it was nearly 34′. Below are some of the news stories from Knoxville area newspapers. It’s worth noting that at that time, there were no dams in place along the river to help control the flood waters. The massive crest of water was documented in accounts even in Chattanooga. Communications were limited to telegraphs and telephone lines, many of which were destroyed in the floods.
With just a few exceptions, we have not corrected spelling or grammar from the original stories.
WORST FLOOD IN KNOXVILLE’S HISTORY IS PREPARING TO DESCEND WITH A RUSH
Bridges in Washington, Unicoi and Greene Counties Are Swept Away
The Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Tennessee
WARNING TO LOWER RIVER POINTS.
Jonesboro, Tenn., May 21, 1901 – Floods without precedent in all rivers in this section. All railroad and county bridges in Unicoi and Washington counties are gone with the wild torrents. Warn Knoxville’s citizens and business interest on river for the greatest flood in your history.
W. P. Brownlow (Congressman from Jonesboro)
GREENE COUNTY BRIDGES.
The Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Tennessee
Wednesday, May 22, 1901 – A telephone message received from Greeneville about midnight stated that it was reported there that practically every bridge in Greene county had been washed away, that all streams were rising out of banks and that they were still rising and immediate damage to farms and crops was certain.
The heavy rains of the past three days, which have been much more severe in the region east of this city, in upper East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, have swollen all streams in this territory, and yesterday afternoon reports of damage began to come in. The information at hand is very meager, but there is every indication that throughout upper East Tennessee and the adjoining states, one of the worst floods of recent years is raging.
THREE CHILDREN DROWNED
The Weekly Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee
Washed From Their Home on Ripley’s Island, on Chucky River
Special to The Sentinel
Greeneville, Tenn., May 22, 1901 – Chucky river is out of its banks, perhaps to a height never known before. At Ripley’s Island, a settlement between Home Depot and Chucky City, three children were drowned. They belonged to a family here named Hill. Their home was washed away, and other houses were completely submerged and otherwise damaged. The steel bridges over the Chuckey river, belonging to Green county, were washed away last night at Earnest, Jones, Brown’s, Bird’s Ferry, Hale’s ford, and Love’s Ferry, also the bridge at Chester.
GREAT LOSS BY FLOODS IN GREENE COUNTY
Chattanooga Daily Times
Every Bridge Over the Chuckey River Washed Away
Greeneville, Tenn., 1901, May 22, 1901
A water spout continuing all day prevailed along the head waters of the Chuckey river yesterday and came down a sweeping flood last night, with hardly a moment’s warning to those living along the river bank. Reports are coming in slowly from the county, but so far the damage done to the county and farms is more than has ever been known in the history of the county. Every bridge in Greene county across Chucky river is gone, including a new one across Jones’ ford, just turned over to the county.
Several of the farmers at Buckingham ford and Allen’s bridge were rescued from their second story windows. The entire family of Joe Hill, who lives on the Ripley farm, were caught in their home like rats in a trap and drowned. Other deaths are reported, but it is impossible to get full details with the communications cut off.
The river rose ten feet in thirty minutes at one time, and there were some narrow escapes among the people along the river. When the river had reached its height it was fifteen feet over the iron bridge piers at Jones’ ford, and when the bridge went all communication was cut between two very important parts of the county. The river was falling at last reports.
The residence of County Chairman Joe Bewley was washed away with everything. The family was saved. A hundred head of cattle was lost. No additional details reported.
GREENEVILLE SUFFERING
The Chattanooga News
Greeneville, Tenn., May 23, 1901 – (Special) The heavy rains of Saturday and yesterday in the mountains of upper East Tennessee have caused much damaged. Reports show that along Chucky river within the bounds of Greene county three wooden and one steel bridge were carried away by the flood and some barns and other out buildings were carried off where the current of high water had not reached since 1867. The brick residence of James Johnson, a prosperous farmer six miles south of Greeneville, on the banks of the river, was flooded to a depth of two feet in the second story.
Much damage has been done to crops along the river and other streams throughout the country, and the hill sides are fearfully washed. No heavier rains have fallen in this section for years and from indications further up in the mountains they partook of the nature of a water spout. The damage to Greene county from the loss of four bridges alone will amount to at least $30,000, and the loss of crops, fencing, and the soil washed away is incalculable. This morning the clouds have drifted away and a number of our townsmen have gone out to view the immense volume of water in the river. Only three persons so far are known to have been drowned. They were living east of Greeneville some five miles, on Ripley’s island, the wife and two children, the husband escaping by climbing a tree on the island.
FLOOD IN OLD GREENE
The Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Tennessee
Left In Its Wake Scenes of Great Desolation.
Loss of Life and Homes, Mills and Bridges Recorded.
Tales of the Oldest Inhabitants no Longer Marvelous – Several Islands Out of Existence.
Greeneville, May 25, 1901 – The great flood of 1901 will be a theme for talk for many years to come. After the first settlement of this part of the state, the first great flood was about the year 1835. This was for years called by many the “Craigmiles flood.” This was because of some events connected with the flood that are no doubt handed down as traditions in the Craigmiles families. Mr. Craigmiles, who was the ancestor of the well-known Craigmiles family of lower East Tennessee, resided on the Chuckey river about ten miles from Greeneville. His house was near the river, but considered as above high watermark. He had a papermill which had a good patronage and was situated on his sluice of the river. By this flood, the mill and all outbuildings were washed away. The dwelling house was built after the old style with a stack chimney in the center. According to tradition, the water drove the family first into the second story, and then into the attic, and Mr. Craigmiles placed a strong plank from the attic into the fork of a large tree and was preparing to leave when the house And take refuge in the tree when he was in someway, informed that the water were beginning to recede. At that time, unaware of the dangerous character of the stream, many others had erected buildings near the stream and were washed away. As as well known, the next great flood was in 1867. At this time, the waters rose from 2 to 4 feet higher than the previous flood. The people, though, with the record of the previous flood before them, Were better prepared and in proportion to the population and resources suffered less than the previous flood. However, like the recent one, it left no bridges behind.
Some facts and the flood are almost incredible. The Nolichuckey river, which winds from forty to sixty miles through Greene County, is ordinarily at modest stream and from it, but little damage might be expected, or not for the previous record. When fed by the mountain torrents in the upper counties, and in the mountains of North Carolina, it is a giant, and nothing can stand before it. It is said to risen at some places the other day, ten feet in thirty minutes. The previous flags have been subjects for talk among the old habitants, but they were nothing to compare with the recent one. In the erection of the bridge known as Brown’s Bridge, the piers were raised higher by four feet than any bridge previously built at that place. This was considered as entirely above the high watermark. On those peers the bridge was erected and covered, the height of the passageway being about twelve feet and from this probably three feet to the highest part of the roof. It is stated that if the bridge could have remained until the water was at its highest, the water would have reached, if not run over the roof of the bridge.
Of the seven bridges in Greene County washed away the ones known as Earnest’s, Brown’s, and Allen’s were of wood and those known as Jones’, Bird’s, Love’s, and Hale’s were the very best of steel bridges. The first of these bridges, Earnest’s, broke loose about nine o’clock, and the speed of the tide can be estimated by the fact that Allen’s Bridge stood until midnight, and Hale’s until about seven o’clock in the morning. By the windings of the river, it was probably sixty miles from the first of the last.
Many almost marvelous things might be related in relation to this great flood. The telephone, which was freely used all the night, probably saved lives and an immense amount of property. One of the greatest surprises was in store for the family of James Allen, former trustee for Greene County. His very handsome resident stands on a considerable elevation near the end of the bridge which bears his name. A small house stood near the river and probably twenty feet or more lower. Mr. Allen was informed by telephone of the coming flood and proceeded to at once rescue his tenants who occupied the house on the lower ground. The waters continued to rise, and the waves slapped his steps. His wife concluded to take up her carpets and did so, seeing a possibility of the water getting into her house. The water continued to rise until it was nearly five feet deep in the house, washing out everything that the family had to eat and ruining the furniture, including a handsome piano. The house of Mr. James Johnson stood on the opposite side of the river, and the circumstances connected with the rescue of the family from the second story have here to forbid published.
Greene County abounds with flouring mills, many of them of the very best improved machinery. Several of those were situated near the river and the owners were among the greatest suffers. At Tipton’s mill the water reached the windows of the upper story. Tipton had on hand considerable amount of wheat and several thousand pounds of flour. He estimates his losses at $1,500. At Alexander’s mill the water filled the basement and rose nine feet Into the first story. The wheat and flour and the machinery has been cleaned, and it is not greatly injured. The mill was reported washed away, but this was a mistake, although a sawmill and other outbuildings were swept away. The mill was almost submerged. Several other mills fared equally as bad.
Much of the damage charged against the flood consists in the washing of the land and the destruction of the crops, which is complete along the entire valley. The wheat crop is, of course, a total loss. The corn can be replanted, and with a favorable season, the land will yet make good corn. They were very many fertile islands in the river, many of which are entirely changed or washed away. Large islands that were worth $50 per acre, or more, have almost ceased to exist, or if left or comment in their changed condition, almost worthless. On the other hand in some places where on account of bends the drifts were driven ashore, the land is actually much improved by the accumulation of drifted soil. In some places, much drift accumulated, and in the drift were found all kinds of furniture, and in one place a trunk and number of pieces of meat and articles of all kinds washed from houses and premises above.
On the material matter, connected with the flood is the fact that not only are the bridges washed away, but the Fords are washed out and changed and rendered unsafe for crossing. At many places , very boats are being built and will be ready for use within a week.
The loss of the bridges is a serious loss for the county, but it may not be quite as great as has been estimated. The steel bridges, of course, immediately sank, and it is believe that they can be recovered and again, Used. Of course this would be a very great expense. Some parts of the wooden bridges drifted only a short distance, but it is not probable that any of the material will be valuable for you here after. The county court will probably be called in extraordinary session on the first Monday in June to take action in the matter.
The wheat crop of Greene County, except we’re injured by the flood, looks exceedingly well.
One more case of smallpox has developed during the past week.
NEW BRIDGES
The Weekly Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee
CITY ENGINEER PARK HAS DONE SOME WORK
Knoxville, Tenn., September 11, 1901 – W. A. Parke, civil engineer, has returned from Greene County, where he had gone to do some work for the American Bridge company, which has the contract to build three new bridges for that county in the place of those washed away in the terrible May flood. He has been getting surroundings and measurements for the new structures, which are to be of iron.
The bridge at Allen’s will have three spans of 150 feet, and will be thirty feet above the water. This is five feet higher than the old one.
Brown’s bridge will contain on 74 foot span, and two 165 feet spans, and be twelve feet higher than the old one, which was only twenty feet above the water.
The bridge at Earnest will have two 171 foot spans, and will be 27 feet 6 inches higher than the old one.
These bridges are all to cross the Nolichuckey river.
All the old piers were washed down, except one, which was left in place at Brown’s. The old abutments are good, but will have to be raised for the new bridges. Four new peers will have to be built. The spans of the new bridges will be much larger than those of the old and will give the water more room to pass during high water.
